The KAP study mentioned above is good attempt at knowing the status of KAP amongst the so called educated class.

The study would have become interventional if the investigators had incorporated the element of education for the ones who are not aware of the diseases and also an intervention to tell that though there is treatment available for the HIV positive it does not easily come through the public health system and the second and third line of drugs if needed in any circumstance then the patient has to pay from the nose!

this defect in the health system has to be made aware to the study subjects as an opportunity to make them aware of thier status of right to health.

Dear Dr. Haricharan,
Thank you for your encouragement and expert comments.
The objective of this study was to understand ground realities, as literature in India is largely silent in this regard. This was primarily a 'descriptive' study. The results of this study may be helpful in pre-post analysis of a follow-up interventional study. There are many research questions that can be actuated from this paper and we are in process to pursue the same.
Regards

From the Indian perspective, literature in this regard is indeed silent. Your study provides a comprehensive snapshot about our youth. The findings can be of great help for organizations like NACO. Knowledge about other other STIs is indeed diluted as HIV has taken all the limelight (justifiably). Kindly conduct an interventional study as a follow-up.

Regards,

Dr. Shreyas

competing interests: None

Invited by the author to make a review on this article? :

Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

Medical practitioner directly in contact with PLHIV on a day to day basis

Congratulations for conducting this unique study. I have searched quite extensively for a similar study in the city of Mumbai- but to no avail. This paper has all the right materials for a phase 2. The only critique I have is about the sample distribution. Suggest that the population clusters could be defined explicitely.

Thank you,

Dr. Dayal

competing interests: none

Invited by the author to make a review on this article? :

Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

I am an out-reach worker in Mumbai and come in direct contact of HIV affected population as well high at risk population.